General Overview
The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Demographics
Switzerland is bordered by France to the west, Germany to the north, Austria to the east and Italy to the south. It has the highest mountains in Europe, with waterfalls and lakes set amid green pastures. The highest peaks are Dufour Peak, 4,634m (15,217ft), on the Italian border; the Dom, 4,545m (14,912ft); the Matterhorn, 4,478m (14,692ft); and the Jungfrau, 4,166m (13,669ft).
• Country name: Swiss Confederation
• Capital Name: Bern
• Population: 7,581,520 (July 2008 est.)
• Nationality: Swiss (singular and plural)
• Languages: German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census)
• Ethnic Groups: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Economy
Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big Western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safehaven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth stagnated during the 2001-03 period, improved during 2004-05, and jumped to 2.9% in 2006, and 2.6% in 2007. Unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $300.2 billion (2007 est.)
• GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (2007 est.)
• GDP - per capita (PPP): $41,100 (2007 est.)
• Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (2007 est.)
• Exports: $202.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
• Imports: $184.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Government
Switzerland, also known as the Swiss Confederation, is considered a federal parliamentary democratic republic, with the seat of government centered in the capital city, Bern. The country features a direct democracy, where any citizen may challenge laws passed by Parliament. The Swiss Confederation was formally founded on August 1, 1291. The national holiday is called Founding of the Swiss Confederation, celebrated on August 1.
Switzerland's current constitution was originally adopted in 1874. Major revisions to the document was approved by the Federal Parliament on December 18, 1998, and adopted by referendum on April 18, 1999. This third federal constitution officially came into force on January 1, 2000. The Federal Constitution allows for universal suffrage at 18 years of age.
• Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
• Legal system: Civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
• Constitution: Revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament 18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officially entered into force 1 January 2000
• Independence: 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
References
The Swiss Federal Council - Official Website
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - The World Factbook
Nation Master - World Data Center
Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia
Lonely Planet - Travel Guidebook
